Sam Carling MP celebrates ‘fantastic day for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough’ as Labour commits to prioritising Hinchingbrooke Hospital RAAC Scheme

Following the publication of the Labour Government’s review of the New Hospital Programme, funding has been confirmed and the RAAC scheme for Hinchingbrooke Hospital has been green-lit – a significant step forward for healthcare in North West Cambridgeshire. 

Carling described the scheme as ‘desperately needed’ and said that ‘after years of uncertainty, residents in North West Cambridgeshire can finally look forward to tangible progress, thanks to this Labour Government’. 

RAAC (Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete) is a lightweight, ‘bubbly’ form of concrete commonly used in construction between the 1950s and mid-1990s, now considered dangerous due to its susceptibility to structural failure. The scheme at Hinchingbrooke Hospital will prioritise replacing buildings reinforced with RAAC concrete to ensure patient safety. 

Construction on the RAAC scheme at Hinchingbrooke Hospital is set to begin in 2027-28, focusing on the most affected buildings. The Trust has outlined a plan that includes necessary demolitions, new energy infrastructure, improved road access, a multi-storey car park, and remodelling to connect with the existing Diagnostic and Treatment Centre. 

Hinchingbrooke Hospital has been prioritised as part of Wave 1 of Labour’s plan to replace RAAC in healthcare facilities, ensuring early action for hospitals most in need. Wave 1 schemes will begin construction between 2025 and 2030, including seven RAAC hospitals (Leighton; West Suffolk; Frimley Park; Hinchingbrooke; Queen Elizabeth; James Paget and Airedale General). 

This decisive action comes after years of delays under the previous Conservative government, which failed to deliver any of the “40 new hospitals.” promised by Boris Johnson. Upon taking office, Labour discovered that funding for the programme was shockingly due to run out in March 2025. 

A review of the programme was launched after the election to provide a realistic and affordable timetable for delivery and give patients an honest, deliverable timetable they can believe in. 

The outcome, announced on Monday, 20th January, ensures the New Hospitals Programme is now on a sustainable footing with a viable timeline and a budget consistent with Labour’s fiscal rules. 

Sam Carling, MP for North West Cambridgeshire said: 

“I am thrilled that we finally have a tangible plan. This is a momentous day for our region, bringing clarity and hope where there was once only delay and disappointment. 

Our residents deserve healthcare facilities that meet modern standards, and this announcement is a big step in making that a reality. 

It is thanks to this Labour Government that we now have a timetable for delivery so patients finally get the care they deserve.” 

Wes Streeting, Labour’s Secretary of State for Health and Social Care said: 

“Since the election, Sam has been banging the drum day and night for a RAAC scheme at Hinchingbrooke. 

“The New Hospital Programme we inherited was unfunded and undeliverable. Not a single new hospital was built in the past five years, and there was no credible plan to build forty in the next five years. 

“When I walked into the Department of Health and Social Care, I was told that the funding for the New Hospitals Programme runs out in March. We were determined to put the programme on a firm footing, so we can build the new hospitals our NHS needs. 

“Today we are setting out an honest, funded, and deliverable programme to rebuild our NHS. I am committed to delivering this RAAC scheme and to rebuilding our NHS.”

Notes:

• The publication of the New Hospital Programme review can be read here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-hospital-programme-review-outcome/new-hospital-programme-plan-for-implementation 

• Working closely with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, we have secured five-year waves of investment, backed by £15 billion over consecutive waves, averaging £3 billion a year. This funding is in addition to the £1 billion announced in the Budget to tackle dangerous RAAC – and the backlog of critical maintenance, repairs, and upgrades across the NHS estate. Together, this forms part of the £13.6 billion capital investment – the largest in the NHS since Labour was last in office.